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YWCA San Diego County presented the 23rd annual In the Company of Women benefit luncheon on Friday, May 19 to celebrate the strength, courage, and spirit of women. The signature event featured the Tribute to Women & Industry (TWIN) Awards to recognize the extraordinary achievements of women in managerial, executive, or leadership roles. Since 1980, TWIN honorees have been inducted into a longstanding prestigious group that continues to empower women today.

Congratulations to the 2023 TWIN honorees — exceptional women who inspire us with their immense talent and dedication to excellence!

MOLLY ADDINGTON
Wealth Treasury Management
National Sales Director
Wells Fargo Bank

MARCIA CHAREST
Senior Fraud Investigator
Torrey Pines Bank

MAYRA CRUZ
Audit Manager
Haskell & White

LISA EYLER, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Sanford Institute’s Center for Empathy & Compassion Training in Medical Education
University of California San Diego

CHRYSTAL FUGETT
Executive Vice President of Recruitment
Aya Healthcare

RORY HEALY
Audit Senior Manager
Deloitte & Touche, LLP

EMILY HILL
Assistant Dean of Marketing & Recruitment
Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego

DONNA JACKSON
Vice President, Portfolio Management
Torrey Pines Bank

MARY KEITH GIORDANO
2023 TWIN Visionary
Vice President, Business Development
Sharp HealthCare

DIANE LITTLE
2023 TWIN Humanitarian
Senior Director of Corporate Accounting
AMN Healthcare

VICTORIA MITCHELL
Director, Engineering & Capital Projects
San Diego Convention Center

LUCKY NARASIMHAN
Senior Manager, Monitoring
Deloitte & Touche, LLP

LISA PARK
Executive Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Aya Healthcare

CATHY RONGEY
2023 TWIN Mentor
Engineering Director
BAE Systems

BRIANNA SCHARNOW
Treasurer
Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation

GRETCHEN TYKER
Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Infantino

GRACE WILLIAMSON
Senior Director of Student Professional Development
Knauss School of Business at the University of San Diego

Additionally, the TWIN Visionary, Mentor, and Humanitarian awards were created to provide another dimension of recognition for our TWIN honorees and their significant impact. The recipients of these distinctive awards were determined by our TWIN Awards Committee and presented to three incredible women. Learn more about each leader below.

Thank you to Rose Farley, Cathy Final, Racquel Kolsrud, Marcea Lloyd, Lisa Martens, Heidi Mather, and Larry West for serving as our 2023 TWIN Awards Committee and thoughtfully reviewing our impressive nominations. We appreciate your time and efforts in helping us commemorate all our exceptional honorees!

Mary Keith Giordano is the Vice President of System Business Development for Sharp HealthCare. Mary is responsible for Sharp’s annual five-year operating, cash, and capital planning process, financing initiatives, physician foundation model evaluations, purchase and sale of real estate and health-related businesses, and formation of joint venture and affiliation arrangements. Mary has over 30 years of experience in the health care industry. She joined Sharp in February 1996 as Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis with responsibility for medical groups, home health, home infusion, and hospice. From October 1996 to September 2001, Mary served as Chief Financial Officer of Sharp Coronado Hospital before being promoted into her current role. Prior to joining Sharp, Mary worked for a managed care company in several finance roles, including financial analysis, budgeting, and revenue enhancement. Mary is a Certified Management Accountant. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University. Mary is a graduate of the Health Management Academy GE Administrative Fellows Program.

Nominated By: Sharp HealthCare is San Diego’s most comprehensive health care delivery system, widely acclaimed for its commitment to transform the health care experience for patients, physicians, and staff through an organization-wide performance improvement initiative called The Sharp Experience.

Vice President, Business Development
Sharp HealthCare

Engineering Director
BAE Systems

Cathy Rongey is the San Diego Business Center Quality Director for the Advanced GEOINT Systems and Mission Systems Product Lines. She previously held leadership roles in Software and Systems Engineering and Program Office, including launching the Engineering Leadership Development Program in San Diego.

Cathy has a Bachelor of Arts in applied mathematics/scientific programming and a Professional Systems Engineering Certificate from UC San Diego. Her experience includes software and systems engineering lead roles, functional supervision, and project management. Cathy is also a graduate of the Horizon Program and the Emerging Leaders Program. Additionally, she received recognition from BAE Systems during National Volunteer Week for her active involvement in FIRST Robotics since 2007 as a mentor and with school startup and team registrations.

Cathy resides in San Diego with her husband Scott, their recent and soon-to-be college graduates Trevor and Lily, and dachshund mix dogs Hershey and Trixie.

Nominated By: Our dedication shows in everything we deliver, from electronic systems to cyber operations and intelligence analysis, from combat vehicles to naval weapons, and from ship modernization to vehicle upgrades. We give our customers a critical advantage where it counts.

Diane Little is a devoted wife and mother, passionate community leader, and successful business executive. Her professional career has given her the opportunity to live and travel the world. She received her Bachelor of Science in accounting from Santa Clara University and her Master of Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She is a California CPA with over 30 years of experience. In her current role, Diane manages accounting operations and leads a team of over 50 accounting professionals.

Diane has been involved with Jack and Jill of America, Inc. since 2006. She recently served on the National Board as the Far West Regional Director and continues her service as an Associate and Life Member. She is an active leader in AMN’s Power and Value in Equality Employee Resource Group, which provides empowerment opportunities for women to network and develop professionally.

Diane attributes her success to the support of her husband of 24 years, William Little. They have three handsome sons and five beautiful granddaughters.

Nominated By: AMN Healthcare is the leader and innovator in total talent solutions for healthcare organizations across the country. We provide access to the most comprehensive network of quality healthcare professionals and help healthcare providers optimize their workforce to improve patient outcomes.

Senior Director of Corporate Accounting
AMN Healthcare